Transcript Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture

Early Christian and
Byzantine Architecture
Architectural History
ACT 322
Doris Kemp
Topics
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Early Christian Architecture
Rome Structures
Structures in the Holy Lands
Milan Structures
Ravenna Structures
Structures in Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
Early Christian Architecture
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The most crucial period of Christianity was the
first three centuries A.D.
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Officially recognized as the state religion of Rome in
326 A.D. by the Roman Emperor Constantine
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Replaced Paganism
First Christian architecture was modest in scope and
served two needs:
Provided a space for spiritual needs of the living
 Provided a burial place for the dead
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Early Christian Architecture
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Early Christian meeting places were actually set-up in
preexisting apartments or homes
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These locations were known as titilus
Most were rebuilt into full scale churches
Best known early Christian architecture are the burial
places, known as catacombs
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Early Christians were quite poor
Burial was provided in individual “shelf ” tombs or private
family chambers
Usually located beneath churches
Early Christian Architecture
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Open air cemeteries were also in existence
Actually preferred over the dreary catacombs
 Vatican Hill
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Modest monument of the late second century
 Said to have marked the grave of Saint Peter
 Now occupied by the church of Saint Peter
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Early Christian Architecture:
Rome and the Holy Land
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Roman Structures
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Lateran
Constantine donated this structure to be seat of the
Bishop of Rome (The Pope)
 Built around 313 A.D., prior to the official establishment
of Christianity in Rome
 The first important Christian structure in Rome
 Has been rebuilt, leaving only its foundations and
historical evidence as to its original form
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Early Christian Architecture:
Rome and the Holy Land
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Roman Structures
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(Old) St. Peters Church
Considered the most important basilican church built by
Constantine
 Building began around 333 A.D.
 Located on the slope of the Vatican Hill in Rome
 Covers a cemetery and features a shrine to Saint Peter,
whom is presumably buried there
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Early Christian Architecture:
Rome and the Holy Land
Photo: Sullivan
Early Christian Architecture:
Rome and the Holy Land
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Structures in the Holy Lands
Constantine also built many structures in the Holy
Lands
 Church of the Nativity
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Built in Bethlehem as a shrine to honor Christ
 Replaced in the sixth century A.D. with the modern
structure
 Very similar to St. Peters but on a much smaller scale
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Early Christian Architecture:
Rome and the Holy Land
Photo: Sullivan
Early Christian Architecture:
Rome and the Holy Land
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Structures in the Holy Lands
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Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Built to honor the burial place of Christ
 More elaborate than the Church of the Nativity
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Had been instructed by Constantine to be “ a basilica more
beautiful than any on Earth”
Surrounded the Holy Sepulcher
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Believed to be the burial place of Christ
Early Christian Architecture:
Rome and the Holy Land
Photo: Sullivan
Early Christian Architecture:
Rome and the Holy Land
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Structures in the Holy Lands
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Anastasis Rotunda
Located in Jerusalem
 Built to honor the resurrection of Christ
 Middle Age representations of Christ’s tomb are almost
all based on this structure
 Built by Constantine, or possibly his sons, in the fourth
century A.D.
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An addition to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Early Christian Architecture:
Rome and the Holy Land
Photo: Sullivan
Early Christian Architecture:
Milan and Ravenna
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Milan
Emerged as a major architectural center in the early
Christian period
 After Constantine moved the seat of the Roman
Empire to Constantinople (modern day Istanbul),
Milan became the capitol of the Western Empire,
replacing Rome.
 A number of important churches were built after
Milan was recognized as the spiritual capitol of the
West
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Early Christian Architecture:
Milan and Ravenna
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Structures in Milan
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Church of the Holy Apostles
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St. Ambrose laid out the design of this church
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A huge, cross-shaped structure
Housed relics of the apostles in a silver casket beneath the
main altar
Early Christian Architecture:
Milan and Ravenna
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Structures in Milan
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Church of S. Lorenzo
Built around 370 A.D.
 Most scholars believe that it was used as the official chapel
of the Imperial Palace in Milan
 Based on a Constantinian model
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Early Christian Architecture:
Milan and Ravenna
Photo: Sullivan
Early Christian Architecture:
Milan and Ravenna
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Ravenna
In 402, Emperor Honorius transferred the Western
Capitol from Milan to Ravenna
 Ravenna became the residence of the Ostrogoth
king Theodoric and his followers
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Maintained close contact with Byzantine East (the Eastern
Empire based in Constantinople)
 Gained much influence from the East ion architecture
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Early Christian Architecture:
Milan and Ravenna
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Structures in Ravenna
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Mausoleum of Galla
Placidia
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Built around 425 A.D.
Featured a cross-shaped
plan
Small but perfectly
preserved
Photo: Sullivan
Early Christian Architecture:
Milan and Ravenna
Photo: Sullivan
Early Christian Architecture:
Milan and Ravenna
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Structures in Ravenna
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Orthodox Babtistery
Built between 400 – 450 A.D
 Featured a wealth of internal ornamentation on the wall
surfaces
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Uncommon at this time
Features a dome overhead that depicts the baptism of
Christ
Early Christian Architecture:
Milan and Ravenna
Photo: Sullivan
Early Christian Architecture:
Milan and Ravenna
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Structures in Ravenna
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Tomb of King Theodoric
Reflects the unique political and cultural status of
Ravenna during this time period
 Features a two storied interior
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Cruciform chamber below
Circular structure above
Probably required laborers from Syria who, at the time,
were the only people versed in the technique of massive
ashlar construction
Early Christian Architecture:
Milan and Ravenna
Photo: Sullivan
Early Christian Architecture:
Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
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Structures in Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
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Hagios Demetrios
Salonika, Greece
 Considered the most imposing early Christian church in
the Greek-speaking eastern Mediterranean
 Has been restored after a fire in 1917 A.D.
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Early Christian Architecture:
Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
Photo: Sullivan
Early Christian Architecture:
Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
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Structures in Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
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St. Simeon Stylites
Located in Qalat Siman, Syria
 Built around 470
 Constructed of heavy ashlar masonry
 Grandiose in size, but simple in scheme
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Early Christian Architecture:
Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
Photo: Sullivan
Early Christian Architecture:
Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
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Structures in Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
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Church in Qalb Louzeh
Located in Syria
 Built around 500 A.D.
 Hints at the beginnings of the Romanesque style of
architecture
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Early Christian Architecture:
Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
Photo: Sullivan
Early Christian Architecture:
Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
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Structures in Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
The early Christian structures in the Rhineland laid
the foundations for later Medieval architecture
 Rhineland maintained close architectural ties with
Milan
 St. Gereon
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Located in Cologne
 Originally constructed as a double cathedral
 Underwent major reconstruction in 380
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Early Christian Architecture:
Greece, Syria, and the Rhineland
Photo: Sullivan
References
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Sullivan, Mary; http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/
http://www.brynmawr.edu/Acads/Cities/wld/wdpt1.html
Trachtenburg/Hyman; Architecture: From Prehistory to
Postmodernity
Wodehouse/Moffett; A History of Western Architecture
Early Christian and
Byzantine Architecture
Architectural History
ACT 322
Doris Kemp